School officials in Indian River County, Florida, have banned the book “Ban This Book” by Alan Gratz, which tells the story of a fourth grader who creates a secret banned books library in response to books being removed from school shelves. The school board accused the book of teaching rebellion against authority and voted to remove it from two elementary schools and a middle school, despite the book-review committee’s decision to keep it. The decision was heavily influenced by Moms for Liberty, a conservative group advocating for book removals.
The author, Gratz, found the decision ironic as the book discusses book banning itself. Critics accused the book of containing sexual conduct, which the author denies, stating that it actually encourages civic engagement rather than rebellion. Despite the board’s decision, the main character’s message of speaking out and engaging in civic matters led to the book being reinstated.
The controversy in Indian River County is part of a larger trend in Florida, where numerous books have been removed from schools following objections by groups like Moms for Liberty. State measures have prompted school leaders to remove books, leading to legal battles and spurring discussions about censorship and parental rights. Governor DeSantis has defended the removals as necessary to protect children from inappropriate content, while critics, including Gratz, argue that it infringes on free speech and limits access to diverse perspectives.
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